Roger’s backhand return. It used to get picked on. It used to misfire and shank and generally underperform relative to the genius of the rest of his arsenal.

And now, all of a sudden, it’s a beast. The most under-rated part of Roger Federer’s game throughout his illustrious career is now the main attraction.

“I am just able to step into the court much easier than I ever have,” Federer said in a post-match interview at the BNP Paribas Open last week, after defeating Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-3 in the fourth round. “I think by coming over my backhand on the return from the get-go in the point, I can then dominate points from the start.”

An Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers analysis of Federer’s 2017 resurgence clearly pinpoints his return game has improved, especially on break points.

Federer is ranked fifth-best in career service games won on the ATP Stats LEADERBOARDS, powered by the Infosys Information Platform, but just 41st in return games won. He drops all the way down to 71st when you look specifically at break points converted in his career, at 41.3 per cent (4321/10,462).

But not so in 2017. Not now with an iron-fist commitment to come over the backhand return.

Federer is all the way up to No. 3 on the ATP World Tour in 2017 with break points won at 50.4 per cent (59/117). This is a huge jump from his 2016 season, when he only won 39.5 per cent (92/233).

Federer won a mind-blowing 64 per cent (14/22) of his break points at the BNP Paribas Open last week. He won 54 per cent (7/13) against first serves, and an imperious 78 per cent (7/9) against second serves.

Federer may never have hit his backhand as well against Nadal as he did in their fourth-round clash last week in the desert.

Federer broke Nadal in the opening game of the match, blocking back a good backhand jam serve, and then forcing a forehand error. With Nadal serving at 1-3, 15/0, Federer raised the stakes with a cross-court backhand return winner from inside the baseline, against a first serve that was equal parts dismissive and nonchalant.

A couple of points later at break point, Federer once again moved forward inside the baseline against the Spaniard’s first serve, contacted the backhand return way out in front of his body, redirecting it straight back down the line for a return winner. Frozen rope. The shot had almost no follow through, but it did elicit seven small fist pumps as Federer walked to his court side chair enjoying a double break of serve.

On match point, with Nadal serving at 3-5, 15/40 in the second set, Federer jumped all over Nadal’s 84 m.p.h. second serve and rocketed a backhand winner straight back down the line. It was lights out for Nadal, as a glow shone brightly on Federer’s backhand return.

Federer won only 24 per cent of his return games in 2016. That’s already up to 29 per cent this year, and climbing.

Federer concedes he is having a lot fun on the court in 2017, exceeding expectations, and overflowing with confidence. Federer leads the Emirates ATP Race To London with 3,045 points – the same amount of points as No. 2 Nadal (1,635) and No. 3 Stan Wawrinka (1,410) combined.

Federer’s backhand return has caught fire, and now he is playing an intriguing global game of “catch me if you can” for the honour of year-end No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, which will culminate at the ATP Finals in November.

The ATP has announced the 2016 ATP Challenger Tournaments of the Year, with three long-standing events voted by players as their most favoured ATP Challenger Tour events: the Sparkassen OPEN (Braunschweig, Germany), the Ethias Trophy (Mons, Belgium) and the Pekao Szczecin Open (Poland). Braunschweig and Mons were also 2015 winners in the inaugural year that players began voting for the awards.

The ATP Challenger Tournament of the Year awards recognise the leading standards set across the 166 Challenger tournaments in 42 countries in 2016.

ATP Challenger Tour Committee Co-Chairs, Alison Lee, ATP International Executive Vice President and Ross Hutchins, Chief Player Officer, said, “These Challengers in Braunschweig, Mons and Szczecin are all proud events which excel in providing the very best services for players and fans. The players appreciate the extra care the tournaments provide them and the fans obviously enjoy themselves with almost 70,000 spectators attending these three tournaments in total.”

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The Sparkassen OPEN in Braunschweig has received many accolades in its 23-year history. Tournament Director Volker Jaecke said, “It´s unbelievable and we say a very special thanks to the ATP and all players, who have voted for our ATP Challenger Sparkassen OPEN in Braunschweig again. It is such an honour for the whole team to receive the Challenger of the Year Award. After winning the award the last two years, we have been even more motivated to organise a great tournament for players, spectators, sponsors and partners. This year, we are very proud to have many ATP Challenger promoters in Braunschweig at the first global ATP Challenger Workshop and we are happy to show them our great event.”

Tournament Promoter of the Sparkassen Open, and CEO of Brunswiek Marketing, Harald Tenzer said, “It is important to mention that this tournament could not exist without all the sponsors and partners who support us each year. We are looking forward to another year of successful cooperation and organization with the ATP, especially with the new prize money level of $150,000 +H. We are hoping to be an important event for the ATP’s Next Generation.”

In 2017, all three Challenger winners have increased to the new top level of prize money on the Challenger circuit, €127,000 (US$150,000) plus hotel accommodation for players.

The Ethias Trophy in Mons, staged since 2005, is also a local crowd favourite. Former player and Tournament Director Dominique Monami said, “We are delighted to have won this prize for the third time. For the last 12 years, we have been helping talented young Belgians break into a difficult environment and offered tens of thousands of visitors a unique experience. Sport has been at the heart of our business model and this prize recognises our visitors and our team. We hope that it will help us safeguard the long-term future of the tournament.”

The Chairman of Pekao Szczecin Open, Krzysztof Bobala said, “I am very pleased that the Pekao Szczecin Open was appreciated and earned this prestigious award. In September, we will be celebrating the 25th anniversary and are proud that we will open a new chapter of our history by being honoured with this award. Our special thanks go to our sponsors and our event organizing team – without them our tournament wouldn’t be the same. With their support, we try every year to raise the bar and be one of the best tournaments in the world. The huge success of last year’s edition, which was highlighted by an attendance record of more than 25,000 people in the stands, gave us a lot of joy and satisfaction and showed that we are going in the right direction. On behalf of the entire crew at Pekao Szczecin Open, we promise we will do our best to constantly develop our tournament and for years to write a beautiful story not only of Szczecin but the entire Polish tennis family. The best is yet to come.”

The ATP Challenger Tour is a launching pad for up-and-coming players to as they look to make strides up the Emirates ATP Rankings, and onto the ATP World Tour. Challenger tournaments provide ATP players with important playing opportunities throughout the season, as well as providing local tennis fans the opportunity to see world-class tennis and future stars of the game.

In 2016, the ATP Challenger Tour comprised 166 events in 42 countries, offering a total of US$10.2 million prize money. More than 750,000 spectators attended these tournaments worldwide. ATP Challenger Tour matches are streamed live on the ATP Challenger Tour page.

• SPOTLIGHT ON MIAMI: The 33rd edition of the Miami Open presented by Itau gets underway on Wednesday. The second of nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments of the season takes place at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park. The 96-player draw features seven of the Top 10 and 16 of the Top 20 players in the Emirates ATP Rankings. Two-time (2005-06) champion Roger Federer, who captured his 90th career title in Indian Wells, is the lone former winner in the field.

• DAY 1 PREVIEW: There are 16 singles matches in the bottom half of the draw on Wednesday’s schedule. Four of the 11 #NextGenATP players in the tournament are in action with teenage wild card Michael Mmoh leading off the busy day on Stadium against Frenchman Nicolas Mahut. Mmoh is looking for his first career ATP World Tour match win (0-5). In the next match on, Memphis champion Ryan Harrison takes on Fabio Fognini, who won the previous meeting at 2014 ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells. In the evening session, #NextGenATP teenager Taylor Fritz meets Adam Pavlasek of the Czech Republic. On Grandstand, Argentines Juan Monaco and Federico Delbonis square off for the fourth time (Monaco leads 2-1). On Court 1, Tommy Haas returns for the first time since reaching the semi-finals in 2013. He takes on Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic.

• INDIAN WELLS, MIAMI TITLE SWEEP: Since 1991, seven players have won the first two ATP Masters 1000 events of the season (11 times) in Indian Wells and Miami. Federer, who won both titles in 2005-06, and Djokovic, who has accomplished the feat a record four times (2011, ’14-15-16), are the only active players to pull off the double ATP Masters 1000 sweep in the same year:

Novak Djokovic 2011, ’14-15-16
Roger Federer 2005-06
Andre Agassi 2001
Marcelo Rios 1998
Pete Sampras 1994
Michael Chang 1992
Jim Courier 1991

• STAN TOP SEED: World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka is the top seed in an ATP Masters 1000 tournament for the first time in his career. The 31-year-old top Swiss player (turns 32 on Mar. 28) on the ATP World Tour is making his ninth Miami Open appearance (7-8 record). His best result was the 4R in 2009 (l. to No. 1 Nadal) and 2014 (l. to Dolgopolov). He is off to a 12-4 start this season and on Sunday he lost to countryman Federer 64 75 in the final at ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells. It was his fourth career ATP Masters 100 final (1-3). He also reached the semi-finals in Brisbane and Australian Open (l. to Federer in five sets) in the opening month.

• ROGER THE GREAT RETURNS: All eyes will be on World No. 6 (No. 4 seed) and 2005-06 champion Roger Federer, who is playing in Miami for the first time since 2014. The 35-year-old superstar comes in after capturing his 90th career title and fifth at ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells on Sunday (d. No. 3 Wawrinka). He also beat No. 6 Nadal in the 4R. Federer’s flawless performance in the desert lifted him from No. 10 to No. 6 in the Emirates ATP Rankings. He did not drop a set and he held serve 47 of 48 games in his five-match title run. Last year Federer was in the Miami draw but withdrew due to a stomach virus. He has a 44-13 record in Miami and he’s making his 16th appearance. In his last visit three years ago, he reached the quarter-finals (l. to Nishikori). He made his tournament debut in 1999 (l. to Carlsen in 1R) and his first win came over Justin Gimelstob in 2000. Federer is off to a 13-1 start this season. He captured his 18th career Grand Slam crown at the Australian Open on Jan. 29 (d. Nadal in five set). He became the second player to win a Grand Slam crown defeating four Top 10 opponents en route (Mats Wilander in 1982 Roland Garros). He then played in Dubai and lost in the 2R (l. to Donskoy in third set TB after holding 3 MPs) before turning in his record-tying fifth Indian Wells title (w/Djokovic). At 35y, 7m, he became the oldest ATP Masters 1000 champion.

• RAFA LOOKS FOR FIRST TITLE: World No. 7 (No. 5 seed) Rafael Nadal is making his 13th tournament appearance (35-11 record, W/O in ‘12). He is a four-time finalist (2005, ’08, ’10, ’14) and this is the only tournament he’s not won with the most attempts. He also was a SF in 2010 and 2012 and QF in 2007 and 2009. Last year he retired in the third set (down 0-3 vs. Dzumhur) in his opening round match due to illness/dizziness. Nadal comes in with a 14-4 match record on the season and in his last tournament in Indian Wells, he fell to eventual champion Federer 62 63 in the 4R. The 30-year-old Spaniard has reached finals at the Australian Open (l. to Federer in five sets) and Acapulco (l. to Querrey). He opened the season by reaching the quarter-finals in Brisbane (l. to Raonic). Nadal is not only trying to capture his 70th career title, he is also aiming to earn his first hard court title since Doha in January 2014 (d. Monfils). He has played in 31 hard court tournaments since the Doha title.

• BIG FOUR DOMINATION: The ‘Big Four’ of Murray, Djokovic, Nadal and Federer have won 57 of the last 62 ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, which dates back to Nadal’s triumph at Monte-Carlo in 2010. The only other players to emerge with an ATP Masters 1000 title during that time are: Robin Soderling (2010 Paris), David Ferrer (2012 Paris), Stan Wawrinka (2014 Monte-Carlo), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (2014 Toronto) and Marin Cilic (2016 Cincinnati). Here is a breakdown of the ATP Masters 1000 titles won by the Big Four during that span: Djokovic (25), Nadal (13), Murray (10) and Federer (9).

The foursome are also among the Top 5 in ATP Masters 1000 titles:
1) Djokovic 30
2) Nadal 28
3) Federer 25
4) Agassi 17
5) Murray 14

• RAONIC RETURNS: World No. 5 (No. 3 seed) Milos Raonic, who has reached the quarter-finals in two of the past three years, is making his return after suffering a right leg injury in Delray Beach last month. The 26-year-old Canadian conceded a walkover in the final vs Sock on Feb. 26, then withdrew from Acapulco and Indian Wells. He has a 10-2 record on the season. He opened the season with a SF in Brisbane (d. Nadal in 3 sets, l. to eventual champion Dimitrov) and reached QFs at Australian Open for 3rd time and Grand Slam QF for 6th time overall (d. Bautista Agut, l. to Nadal).

• TOP 20 BREAKTHROUGH: The newest member of the Top 20 in the Emirates ATP Rankings is 25-year-old Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta, who is No. 19 this week after reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final in Indian Wells (l. to Wawrinka). Carreno Busta enters Miami with a 15-7 match record on the season and he has reached the semi-finals (or better) in his last four tournaments – Buenos Aires (SF), Rio de Janeiro (Finalist), Sao Paulo (SF) and Indian Wells (SF). Carreno Busta also is ranked No. 18 in doubles (12-4 record). He won the Rio doubles title (w/Cuevas) and he is the only player ranked in the Top 20 in singles and doubles this week. He is looking for his first win in Miami after 1R losses the past three years.

• FORMER FINALISTS IN FIELD: While Federer is the only Miami Open champion (also 2002 finalist) in the draw, there are four other players who have reached the final:

Final (Opponent) Miami W-L
Kei Nishikori 2016 (l. to Dlokovic) 17-6
Rafael Nadal 2014 (l. to Djokovic) 35-11
2011 (l. to Djokovic
2008 (l. to Davydenko)
2005 (l. to Federer)
David Ferrer 2013 (l. to Murray) 31-14
Tomas Berdych 2010 (l. to Roddick) 30-11

• BACK AGAIN IN MIAMI: There are eight players in the singles draw who are playing in Miami for at least the 10th consecutive year. David Ferrer and Fernando Verdasco lead the way with their 15th consecutive Miami Open appearance. Here are the longest current streaks (including this year):

Streak W-L Best Result (Year)
David Ferrer 15 31-14 Finalist (2013)
Fernando Verdasco 15 16-14 QF (2009-10)
Juan Monaco 14 16-13 SF (2012)
Tomas Berdych 12 30-11 Finalist (2010)
Gilles Simon 12 16-11 QF (2011, ‘13, ’16)
Sam Querrey 12 8-11 4R (2013)
Ivo Karlovic 12 3-11 3R (2010)
John Isner 10 12-9 SF (2015)

• INFOSYS ATP WORLD TOUR WINS LEADERS: Here is a look at this season’s match wins leaders on the ATP World Tour:

W-L Titles
1) Grigor Dimitrov 17-3 2
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 17-4 2
Dominic Thiem 17-7 1
4) Jack Sock 15-3 2
David Goffin 15-6 0
Pablo Carreno Busta 15-7 0

• #NEXTGENATP STARS: There are 11 #NextGenATP players in the main draw, including six teenagers. Here’s a look at the talented 21 & under group listed in ranking order:

Main Draw Rank Age
Alexander Zverev No. 20 19
Karen Khachanov No. 52 20
Borna Coric No. 62 20
Hyeon Chung No. 92 20
Jared Donaldson (Q) No. 95 20
Frances Tiafoe (Q) No. 101 19
Ernesto Escobedo (Q) No. 108 20
Taylor Fritz No. 126 19
Casper Ruud (WC) No. 128 18
Andrey Rublev (WC) No. 130 19
Michael Mmoh (WC) No. 179 19

• WILD CARDS: The five main draw wild cards are from five different countries: Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil), Michael Mmoh (U.S.), Andrey Rublev (Russia), Casper Ruud (Norway) and Mikael Ymer (Sweden). Ruud and Ymer, both 18, are making their tournament main draw debut.

• SOCK LEADS AMERICAN TITLE HOPES: Top American Jack Sock is a career-high No. 17 in the Emirates ATP Rankings after reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 singles semi-final in Indian Wells (d. No. 5 Nishikori, l. to eventual champion Federer). The 24-year-old Kansas City, Kan. resident comes in with a 15-3 match record on the season. He has a 4-4 record in Miami, reaching the 3R in 2015-16. He is one of four players on the ATP World Tour with two titles this season (Dimitrov, Federer and Tsonga). Other American title winners this season are Ryan Harrison (Memphis) and Sam Querrey (Acapulco). The four titles is the most by a country this season on the ATP World Tour. The last American champion in Miami was Andy Roddick in 2010 (d. Berdych).

• MILESTONE WATCH: Last week Philipp Kohlschreiber notched his 400th career match win in Indian Wells. There are three players who could reach milestone match wins in Miami:

Milestone Enters Miami
David Ferrer 700 Wins 696
Marin Cilic 400 Wins 396
Sam Querrey 300 Wins 296

• HAAS BACK IN ACTION: Former World No. 2 Tommy Haas, the oldest player in the singles draw, is weeks away from his 39th birthday on April 3. He is playing in his third tournament since October 2015 in Vienna. In his previous tournaments this season at the Australian Open, he retired (illness) in the 1R after dropping the first two sets to Paire. Last month he lost in 1R in Delray Beach (l. to Basilashvili). Haas has been busy the past two weeks as tournament director at ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells. He has a protected ranking of No. 25. Haas has a 14-12 career record in Miami with his best result the semi-finals in his last visit in 2013 (d. No. 1 Djokovic in 4R, l. to No. 5 Ferrer). This is the 20th anniversary of his first Miami appearance when he reached the 3R (d. Forget, J. Sanchez, l. to eventual champion Muster).

• STRONG DOUBLES FIELD: The top eight teams in the Emirates ATP Doubles Team Rankings are entered in the draw, led by Australian Open champions Henri Kontinen and John Peers, who are top seeds in an ATP Masters 1000 tournament for the first time. In last year’s final, Herbert & Mahut defeated Klaasen & Ram 57 61 10-7. Here is a look at the Top 8 teams entered:

1) Henri Kontinen & John Peers
2) Raven Klaasen & Rajeev Ram
3) Jamie Murray & Bruno Soares
4) Bob Bryan & Mike Bryan
5) Jean-Julien Rojer & Horia Tecau
6) Lukasz Kubot & Marcelo Melo
7) Ivan Dodig & Marcel Granollers
8) Juan Sebastian Cabal & Robert Farah

• FORMER CHAMPIONS IN DRAW: There are two teams playing together who are former champions in Miami, reigning champions Pierre-Hugues Herbert & Nicolas Mahut and four-time winners Bob & Mike Bryan (2007-08, ’14-15). There are four other players who have won the title playing with different partners:

— Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi & Jean-Julien Rojer (2013)
— Max Mirnyi (2003, ‘05-06, ’09)
— Daniel Nestor (2002)

Rafael Nadal would love to add a first Miami Open presented by Itau trophy to his 69 ATP World Tour titles and continue his strong start to 2017.

The World No. 7, who plays either Dudi Sela or a qualifier in the second round, is the fifth seed in Miami. Despite the absence of World No. 1 Andy Murray and World No. 2 Novak Djokovic, Nadal said that the path to the title would still be a tough one.

“As everybody knows, the year is long and there are plenty of tournaments,” said Nadal. “Djokovic and Murray might not be here, but there are a lot of great players.”

Nadal is making his 13th appearance in Miami, where he is a four-time finalist (2005, ’08, ’10 and ’14), and is targeting another chance at glory.

“Winning Miami is not an obsession. I would love to add Miami to my CV. The opportunities are not eternal, although I hope to have more in the future,” revealed Nadal. “I had four chances and in two of them I was very close. Normally, when you have those chances you have to take them.”

Nadal arrives in Miami with a 14-4 match record for the season. At Indian Wells last week, the first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event of the season, he reached the BNP Paribas Open fourth round, losing to eventual champion Roger Federer.

The 30 year old, aiming to capture his first hard court title since Doha in January 2014, has also reached finals at the Australian Open (l. Federer) and Acapulco (l. Querrey) in 2017.

“I feel good. I have started the year well,” said Nadal. “In every match I felt that I performed well. Now I have another chance to do it and hopefully I will be ready.”

Henri Kontinen and John Peers head into this week’s Miami Open in uncharted territory. They are the top seeds at an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament for the first time and for Kontinen, an added incentive looms.

The 26 year old stands to become the first World No. 1 from Finland in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings should he and Peers push deep and other results fall their way. The Australian Open champions stand to make up big ground having fallen in the opening round last year (l. to Cilic/Draganja). 

Kontinen will ascend to the individual doubles top spot unless he and Peers fail to reach the semi-finals and either Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan reach the final or defending champions Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut reach the final.

The Finn would also be denied should he and Peers bow out in the semi-finals and either the Bryans or Herbert/Mahut go on to win the title.

The Finnish/Austraian pair opens against Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah, while four-time champions, the Bryans, begin their campaign against Fabrice Martin and Marcin Matkowski. The Americans – despite having not won a ATP World Tour title since last May’s ATP Masters 1000 Rome – are still a shot at reclaiming the World No. 1 ranking. They could meet eighth-seeded Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez in the quarter-finals before a potential semi-final clash in a rematch of the Australian Open final against Kontinen/Peers.

Second-seeded Herbert/Mahut take on Brit Dominic Inglot and Romanian Florin Mergea first up with a tricky potential quarter-final match-up against BNP Paribas Open champions, fifth seeds Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram, on the cards. Brothers Alexander Zverev and Mischa Zverev meet Austrian Dominic Thiem and Serbian veteran Nenad Zimonjic, with the winner likely to meet Klaasen and Ram in the second round.

Fourth seeds Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares tackle last year’s Wimbledon runners-up Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi at the first hurdle with a quarter-final clash against sixth seeds Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo projected. Kubot and Melo will need to defeat the scratch pairing of 39-year-old Tommy Haas and Lucas Pouille in the opening round.

To Kei Nishikori, everything is just about perfect at the Miami Open presented by Itau, the season’s second ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, which kicks off on Wednesday.

The tournament’s location, the Tennis Center at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne, is only a four-hour drive from where Nishikori lives and trains year-round, in Bradenton, Florida. The south Florida conditions – quick and fast – suit the aggressive Japanese player.

The only thing missing from making the Miami event perhaps Nishikori’s absolute perfect tournament has been the lack of a title. The 27 year old is searching for his first Miami crown, which he’ll try to land during the next two weeks.

“I feel very relaxed here, very open… I feel like I’m at home,” Nishikori said on Tuesday during his pre-tournament press conference.

Nishikori came close to his maiden Masters 1000 title in Miami last year, falling to Novak Djokovic in the final. It was Nishikori’s second Masters 1000 title match (also 2014 Madrid). But the two weeks still served as a momentum-building tournament for Nishikori, who beat four Top 30 players, including Gael Monfils and Nick Kyrgios, en route to the final.

The Shimane native has rarely had a poor showing in south Florida. Of his seven prior appearances, he’s advanced to at least the fourth round five times times, including a semi-final showing in 2014 (l. to Djokovic) and a quarter-final run in 2015 (l. to Isner). “I have good memories here,” Nishikori said.

The 5’10” right-hander kicked off the 2017 Masters 1000 calendar positively last week, reaching the quarter-finals at the BNP Paribas Open (l. to Sock). “I was playing great tennis. Unfortunately I lost in the quarter-finals but still I was playing good,” he said. “My tennis is getting much better, getting more solid.”

Nishikori is the second seed in Miami. He receives a first-round bye and will face Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic or former Top 10 player Kevin Anderson in the second round.

The man with the nickname “Stanimal” faced a new question during Tuesday’s media day at the Miami Open presented by Itau: What animal would he be, given the choice?

“Depends on the day,” said Stan Wawrinka, after a pause. “I quite like a black panther.”

A panther may befit his status this week in Miami, where he is the top seed for the first time at an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament. Additionally, the World No. 3 is riding the confidence of a runner-up finish to countryman Roger Federer in Sunday’s BNP Paribas Open final.

“I’m really happy with the results. I was sad after the loss, but he was playing too good and it was a good final,” said Wawrinka. “I’m feeling confident with my game in general because making the final of the first Masters was great, but here it’s completely different conditions so I’ll see when I start to practise again tomorrow. Hopefully I can do a good result here.”

Wawrinka’s past two appearances on U.S. soil have resulted in final appearances, including last September’s triumph over Novak Djokovic in the US Open final, and he will be looking to advance beyond the Round of 16 for the first time on his ninth visit to Key Biscayne.

This week he opens against the winner between Gastao Elias and Horacio Zeballos, with seeded opponents in his quarter including No. 16 Alexander Zverev, No. 18 John Isner and No. 31 Feliciano Lopez. Should he get through his quarter, Wawrinka could face a rematch with two-time Miami champion Federer in the semi-finals.

“From him, nothing is a surprise anymore,” he said. “For sure to see him moving that well at that age it’s something amazing. It’s something that’s good for me, I’m turning 32 (on 28 March), to see that you can still be at the top… It’s just amazing the way he’s playing straight after a six-month injury. That was really special to win the Australian Open. I’m sure this year is going to be big for tennis.”

Wawrinka, currently behind Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic in the Emirates ATP Rankings, anticipated a battle for World No. 1, with Federer making a strong push early in the season. Federer has climbed 10 spots since the start of the year, moving ahead of Rafael Nadal to No. 6 following Indian Wells.

“For sure he has a shot for No. 1,” said Wawrinka. “He won a Slam and the first Masters 1000 so for sure he has a big shot, but it’s going to be interesting to see if Rafa is playing well also. We’ll see when Andy and Novak will come back from injury, so this year will be really interesting for tennis fans.”

With age comes perspective and at 35, on the comeback from his longest stint on the sidelines, Roger Federer is playing with a renewed sense of freedom. A stunning run to the Australian Open title and then the BNP Paribas Open crown at the weekend are testament to him chanelling this ‘underdog’ confidence as he prepares a tilt at his first Miami Open title in 11 years.

The Swiss, who started the season at No. 17 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, has soared back to No. 6. A decade ago he was the reigning two-time Miami Open champion.

“At 25 I was winning 90 per cent of my matches and eventually you’re on this train where you keep rolling and expect yourself to win a lot,” Federer said. “You play many more tournaments.

“It was an incredible experience being able to play at such a high level for so long and beating so many of the guys, winning so many finals in a row. It’s definitely different, especially this year, it’s very different to any other that I’ve ever experienced, as was last year with the injury, with the age, with the comeback.

“This is very special for me. I definitely see things different today than I ever have.”

The fourth seed opens against either #NextGenATP player Frances Tiafoe or Russian Konstantin Kravchuk before a likely third-round clash with No. 29 seed Juan Martin del Potro, a player on a comeback trail of his own. Should that showdown eventuate, Federer will carry a 15-5 FedEx ATP Head2Head record, although the last time the pair played was the ATP Finals in 2013.

“I was very happy for him last year,” Federer said of del Potro’s return. “I was supposed to play him here and then I pulled out, which was a pity for both of us.

“The comeback was great for him. He finished top 40, won the Davis Cup, it was a dream come true for him as far as I know. I’m focused on one round earlier though.”

Sixth seed Dominic Thiem is his projected quarter-final opponent and should he live up to his seeding he could set his third clash of the season with compatriot and top seed Stan Wawrinka in the semi-finals.

For now, the lone former champion in the field is relieved to back to full health. A stomach virus ruled him out ahead of his first-round clash with del Potro last year. This is the first time he will have played in Miami since 2014.

“I’m coming in with more confidence, which I prefer, of course,” Federer said. “I’m happy to be healthy this time around. Last year, I postponed the press conference three or four times because I wasn’t feeling well and then at the end it ended up not possible at all so it’s nice to be back here healthy.”